Please don’t use the “c” word or the “d” word around me!

That’s it. I’ve had it. If one more company uses the words “cleanse” or “detox” for one more product, I will lose it. Lose it! Because, guys, it’s ALL MARKETING. Which is another way of saying, it’s all bullshit. It’s just like the milk = strong bones correlation. Which is totally, factually, 100% incorrect yet is now indelibly imprinted into every American’s brain. The marketing geniuses have struck again and created the detox-cleanse myth. And now every product and program out there wants you to believe you NEED one because your body is so vile and dirty and filled with toxins.

It’sascam.

Stop. Stop, exhale, and read these next words very carefully:

Our bodies have an amazing detoxification system built into them. It is called our kidneys, our liver, our skin, and our lungs. Boom.

The reason this gets me so upset is the whole cleasining/detoxing industry succeeds by preying on people’s insecurities. Are you feeling fat? Detox! Have you been drinking too much alcohol? Cleanse!

And they further enable the “magic pill” wishful thinking that the entire diet industry lives and breathes by which boils down to this: it doesn’t matter how crappy I eat most of the time, I’ll just do a cleanse for 7 days (or take this new supplement or try this new diet, or, or, or) and all will be forgiven.

No! It does not work that way. That only results in damaging your metabolism and ensuring you will put any weight you’ve lost back on immediately. And probably a couple of extra pounds.

Here is the scientific, factual truth:

Toxins don’t build up in our body. If they did, we would die or be in need of serious medical intervention.

Are you still with me? Here’s a couple more things to think about:

Most cleanses or detoxes say your body is releasing “toxins”. What toxins? What exactly are they talking about? And, if they are “releasing” said toxins, show me a blood panel that proves this. Or a spit test or a poop test. Show me something that backs up what you are claiming! They can’t.

If, indeed, your body released toxins, guess where they would go? THROUGH YOUR KIDNEYS AND LIVER THEREBY RESTRESSING THE ORGANS YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DETOXIFYING AND CLEANSING.

Most marketing materials link toxin buildup general symptoms like fatigue, headache, insomnia or weight gain. They aren’t idiots. Who hasn’t experienced one or all of these in their lifetime?? However they fail to link specific toxins to specific symptoms or illness because they can’t. There is not one scientific study proving that a detox or cleanse treatment has had any useful medical effect.

Peter Pressman, an internist at the naval hospital in Jacksonville, Florida states, “There is absolutely no scientific basis for the assertion that the regimens popularly defined as ‘detox’ will augment the body’s own capacity for identifying and eliminating your own metabolic wastes or doing the same for environmental toxins,” he said. “I advise patients that these detox programs amount to a large quantity of excrement, both literally and figuratively.”

Instead, focus on making real, lasting changes to your diet. Changes that can be sustained for a lifetime. Not just 7 days. And these can be so easy. Drink more water. Eat more vegetables. Exercise more. Cook more food at home. Boom. Cleansed.

This week’s recipe is from what may quite possibly be my most favorite cookbook ever. And I have a LOT of cookbooks! The recipe I chose is a great one for cleaning up your diet and getting more veggies into your day.

Kale Slaw with Creamy Mustard Dressing
From at home in the whole kitchen

Dressing:

2 tablespoons raw cashew butter

2 tablespoons filtered water

1 small garlic clove, pressed

1 tablespoon unpasteurized apple cider vinegar

1 teaspoon ume plum vinegar

2 tablespoons whole-grain Dijon mustard

Sea salt, to tasate

Freshly ground black pepper

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Salad:

5 cups thinly sliced kale (from about 1 medium bunch)

2 cups thinly sliced red cabbage

1 medium carrot, cut in matchsticks

1 small bulb fennel, trimmed and thinly sliced

2 thinly sliced scallions

2 tablespoons roasted sunflower seeds

MAKE THE DRESSING:

Place cashew butter and water in a small bowl, and mix until smooth. Stir in garlic, vinegars, mustard, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Add olive oil, mix again until smooth and creamy, season to taste, and set aside.

MAKE THE SALAD:

Place kale, red cabbage, carrot, fennel, scallions, and sunflower seeds in a large salad bowl; toss to combine. Drizzle with dressing; toss until slaw is evenly coated and serve.

Nicole’s Notes:

This salad will last quite a long time in the refrigerator. Make it on Sunday and eat it as your lunch for a couple of days.

THANK YOU!! Finally an article that talks about this!!! I don’t believe in any kind of cleanses or “detoxes”. I think variety is good and cleansing with juice (as an example) or any other single-item is not healthy!